1963 coupe early

[Jeremy Hedges]

I am working on a 63SWC very early car 1XXX, it has an am radio and no bezel. All the supply books show the bezel the same for late 63-67, was there a bezel in early 63? The whole in the dash is not as wide as it is in 64-67.

thanks

Jeremy Hedges
#31711

[dean petrucelli]

Re: 1963 coupe early

jeremy
i have an early original 63 coupe #6099. my dash is all original and does not appear to ever have been out. i do not have the bezel around my radio. the hole is a bit smaller and the cut is not real clean either. i also have no vinyl on my dash. i believe the change over to bezels happened around early january and the bezel was to help retain the vinyl overlay. hope this helps

[Mike L.]

Re: 1963 coupe early

You should have NO bezel around the radio.

[Collin MacDonald]

Re: 1963 coupe early

Mike,

Is that ALL 63's should have no Bezel...I thought the late January cars had bezels installed????

[Mike L.]

Re: 1963 coupe early

Collin, early 63 car have no bezel.

[Joe M.]

Re: 1963 coupe early

No bezel in an Oct car. I remember getting some parts from a 65 and was going to put the 65 bezel around my AM but found the opening for the radio was too small to accept the bezel without enlarging the opening.

[Collin MacDonald]

Re: 1963 coupe early

Mike,

Last time I was judged they hit for for the first time on having a bezel around the wonderbar radio. My car is a January car, and since I have talked only to a couple of folks who one having a Jan 63 and other a March 63, both had wonderbars with bezel and told me it was correct. The JG really does not tell what is what, so did the January car's have the Bezel? Appreciate your answer on this....MANY thanks

[Mike L.]

Re: 1963 coupe early

I owned #600 63 Corvette at one time many years ago, the car was purchased from it's original owner and it had a wonderbar radio without the bezel. The car also had pockets under the seats.

[Jack H.]

See Noland Adam's book...

for a discussion on this running change (radio bezel) which was related to the addition of vinyl plastic covering on the dash center section... Look in the 1963 model year section under the U65 option description. According to Noland's original survey data, production was 'mixed' in terms of the radio bezel from VIN 3563 to 6422 and the presense/absence of vinyl on the center secion also varied from VIN 3221 to 5209...

[Tom H.]

Re: 1963 coupe early

My January 24th built coupe has the bezel.

[Andy C.]

Re: 1963 coupe early

Jeremy; Very early 63 corvettes that had a painted center dash section did not use a bezel around the radio and therefore the opening is smaller. When they went to the vinyl covered dash they enlarged the opening for the radio to accomodate the bezel. There is an early 63 dash on ebay now! Andy

[Sydney G.]

Re: See Noland Adam's book...

Jack,
It's interesting that on my 1963 list of cars, I have VIN 6422 recorded as being a radio delete car.
Guess there is no need for a bezel on that Coupe!

Of course, mistakes can be made on my end.
Syd

[Frank C.]

Re: 1963 coupe early

My Sept '62 has a painted dash and no bezel. My daily driver #2206 never payed any attention to this, but if someone wants to know I'll look at it

[Collin MacDonald]

Re: 1963 coupe early

My build is 07426, Jan 24 1963....I beleive a bezel was on mine, can anybody confirm please??? Many Thanks